I have just purchased a Polypterus weeksii who is around 9-10 inches and he seems to have decided he likes to squeeze into my tyre track eels home that is a 32mm piece of black house hold waste pipe ( the sort for bathroom sinks ).
I had to search the tank for him this morning and eventually that is were he was ,I had to pick it up and tip him out just to see if he could get out I didn't want him to drown.
I was told by the previous owner that they can be a bit stupid and will try and squeeze in to places they can't get out of he had lost two that way.
It does seem like a tight fit does anybody know how long the can hold there breath and how often they come up for air?
He seems to have gone back in there not sure were the tyre track is ,my tank has plenty of hiding places but I suspect he has probably displaced a few rope fish from there smaller tube (was a moss stand thing from a uka plant)
I can change the waste pipe for 40 mm no problem(I am a plumber) then he will have a bit more room to move his fins but should I even then be worried .
The tank is more for fish comfort than looks at the moment but I could go down the more natural route I have three large caves made from slate that could go in.
It is just that ropes and eels love there tubes so much and it nice to have large caves and hiddy holes made from large clay pots strategically broken and placed.
I am sorry if some of this info is easy to find I did search for tubes but I need some expert opinions fairly fast before any tragedy occurs ,great polypterus section by the way think I have some serious reading to do.
Any ideas on tubes with birchirs would be appreciated .
I had to search the tank for him this morning and eventually that is were he was ,I had to pick it up and tip him out just to see if he could get out I didn't want him to drown.
I was told by the previous owner that they can be a bit stupid and will try and squeeze in to places they can't get out of he had lost two that way.
It does seem like a tight fit does anybody know how long the can hold there breath and how often they come up for air?
He seems to have gone back in there not sure were the tyre track is ,my tank has plenty of hiding places but I suspect he has probably displaced a few rope fish from there smaller tube (was a moss stand thing from a uka plant)
I can change the waste pipe for 40 mm no problem(I am a plumber) then he will have a bit more room to move his fins but should I even then be worried .
The tank is more for fish comfort than looks at the moment but I could go down the more natural route I have three large caves made from slate that could go in.
It is just that ropes and eels love there tubes so much and it nice to have large caves and hiddy holes made from large clay pots strategically broken and placed.
I am sorry if some of this info is easy to find I did search for tubes but I need some expert opinions fairly fast before any tragedy occurs ,great polypterus section by the way think I have some serious reading to do.
Any ideas on tubes with birchirs would be appreciated .
